Combined thimble and needle-threader.



PATENTBD DEC. 4, 1906.

. E. M. TOTTEN. COMBINED THIMBLE AND NEEDLE THRBADER.

APPLICATION FILED JUIB 24. 1905.

Jaw 70% Jflbwsss: v

. z yene J[. T02 512 n, jm'mi'an 7444f H W \4: W

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE M. TOTTEN, OF BUFFALO, NEWV YORK, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO GEORGE O. M. BUOKNER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK COMBINED THIMBLE AND NEEDLE-THREADER.

Application filed June 24,1905. Serial No. 266,711.

To all lull/0772, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EuGENE M. TOTTEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Thimble and N eedle-Threader, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to needle-threaders, and more particularly to a combined thimble and needlethreader.

The object of my invention is the production of a device of the character mentioned which is compact, simple, and inexpensive and in which the threading-hook is protected so that in using the thimble the thread or the material being sewed cannot come in contact with said hook.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts to be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the 'subjoined claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is an enlarged perspective view of a thimble embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a still further enlarged longitudinal section taken through the threading extension of the thimblev Fig. 3 is a fractional elevation of that part of the thimble having the threading extension thereon. Fig. 4 is a section on line .L 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section 011 line 55, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The letter A designates the thimble having the open or upper end provided with the usual thickened rim B. The thimble is provided with a grooved and slotted extension or enlargement O, formed integrally therewith. If desired, however, this extension may be stamped separately and soldered or otherwise applied to the thimble.

In order that the entire pitted surface of the thimble may be of use, said extension is formed on one side of the thimble and extends from the edge thereof to the margin of the pitted region. Said extension forms the body of the threading device and is provided with a longitudinal needlereceiving groove D, extending from its lower end upward, the lower end of said groove being widened to receive a spring needle-retainer E, which is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1906.

preferably formed by curving the wire centrally into a U-shaped retaining portion 6, then recurving the same, as at e, to provide spring portions, and finally bending the ends outward, as at e, to enter apertures formed in the sides F of the extension. Said thread ing device is also provided with a thread-receiving slot G, arranged transversely and extending from a point below the upper end of the groove D to the upper end of the extension, thus intersecting the needle-receiving groove.

Situated in the groove D, at the upper end thereof, is the threading member H, which is made of fine wire to permit of its being passed through the eye of a fine needle. This member, is soldered or otherwise afi ixed to the body of the thimble and is directed outward and provided with an upturned hook I at its outer end and with a downwardlycurved or crooked portion J between the body of the thimble and the inner wall of the thread-receiving slot. is adapted to receive that portion of the needle between the blunt end and the eye thereof, and thus maintain the needle for threading between the body of the thimble and the slot G. i

In threading the needle the thread is inserted in the thread-receiving slot so as to lie on the threading member in front of the needle, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The needle may now be disengaged from the threading-bar, during which action the thread is moved to the hooked end of the latter and held in engagement with the same. The needle is therefore passed over the hook and draws the thread out with it. When this is accomplished, the thread may be disengaged from the hook and one strand of the thread then drawn entirely through the eye of the needle. During the threading action the needle is also withdrawn from the springretainer E, which may be dispensed with, if desired, as it is simply used as an additional guard against displacement of the needle while being threaded.

By means of the construction described the hooked threading member is housed between the side walls of the needle-receiving groove, and casual engagement of the operators fingers or thecloth beingsewed cannot therefore occur.

Said curved portion Having thus described my invention, what I claim is*' 1 A thimble having an extension provided with a needle-receiving groove and a threadreceiving slot intersecting said groove, a needle-threading member at the intersection of said slot and said groove, and a spring needleretainer'in the groove adapted to partly embrace the needle. i

2. A thimble having'an integral extension provided with a needle-receiving longitudinal groove and a transverse thread-receiving slot intersecting said groove,-and a needle-threading member at the intersection of said slot and groove extending outward from the wall of the thimble and arranged to hold the needle between said slot and' the body of the thimble and means for retaining the needle in the roove.

3. A thimble having an extension provided with a needle-receiving groove and'a threadreceiving slot intersecting saidgroove, and a needle-threading member at the intersection of said slot and groove, said member extending outward from the .body of the thimble and having a curved portion between the slot and body of'the thimble to hold the needle dle threading position for threading.

4. A thimble having an extension provided with a needle-receiving groove and a threadreceiving slot intersecting saidgroove, a needle threading member extending outward from the wall of the thimble at the, intersection of said groove and slot, and a spring needle-retainer at the lower end of said needle-receiving groove adapted to clasp the needle and partly embrace it. v

5. A thimble having an integral extension provided with a longitudinal groove extendingg-lparallel to the wall of the thimble, and a longitudinal slot arranged at right angles to and intersecting said groove, a hooked neemember extending outward from the wall of the thimbleat the point of intersection of said groove and slot adapted to hold the needle between said slot and the base of the groove.

6. A thimble having an integral extension provided with a longitudinal groove, a longitudinal transverse slot intersecting said groove, and a hooked threading member extending outward in saidgroove and having a downwardlycurved portion between said slot and the body of the thimble, and a hook at its outer terminal situated between said slot and the outer surface of the extension.

7. A needle-threading device having a needle-receiving groove and a thread-receiving vslot arranged at right angles to said groove and intersecting the latter, and a hooked needle threading member extending outward with its free terminal within said groove, and means for retaining the needle in the groove.

8. A thimble having an integral extension formed on one side thereof, a longitudinal groove in the extension, a transverse slot intersecting said groove, a needle-threading member located in the groove at the point of intersection and extending outward from the wall of the thimble, and a spring needle-retainer in the groove.

9. A thimble provided with an integral extension formed with a longitudinal needle receiving groove, a transverse thread-receiving slot lntersecting said groove, a threading member extending outward from the wall of the thimble and housed between the walls of the needle-receiving groove, and needle-retaining means in the groove.

10. A thimble having an integral extension provided with a needle-receiving groove, and a thread-receiving slot intersecting the groove, and a needle-threading member extending outward from the wall of the thimble and housed within the extension at the intersection of the groove and slot.

11. A thimble having an integral extension provided with a longitudinal needle-receiving groove andv a transverse threadre ceiving slot intersecting said groove, and a needle-threading member secured to the wall 1 of the thimble and extending outward therefrom, said member entirely-inclosed within the groove.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EUGENE M. TOTTEN.

Witnesses l\/IAY F. SEWERT, EMIL NEU'HART. 

